Driving or bridle bit.



J. FIELDS..

omvms 0R BRIDLE BIT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1914.

1,168,617, Patented Jan 18, 1916.

anssn FIn'Liis'or Farm, KnuzrocKY.

DRIVING 0R Bikinis iei'r.

inseam.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. is, rate.

Application filed March 10, 1914. Serial No. 823,771.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Jnssn FIELDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at F ulton,.

in the county of Fulton and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driving or Bridle Bits, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a bit which is especially adapted for use in connection with. vicious or fractious horses to facilitate control of the same when driving or riding them. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a bit of this character which will not present the, appearance; ofa bit of this character when in use.

A further object is to provide abit which extends through the mouth of the animal and rearwardly of the jaw so as to, be contracted about the jaw upon stress being imparted to the reins. I

Other features and novel objects of the invention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing and will be more particularly pointed out and ascertained in and by the appended claims.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bit embodying one form of my invention showing the manner in which the reins and bridle straps are connected thereto. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

As illustrated, 1 and 2 designate bit rods or members which as shown, are adapted to extend through the mouth of the animal in opposite directions and in crossed relation with each other, the crossing point being indicated at 3. The mouth portions of each bit member are curved substantially throughout their length, or those portions thereof which are disposed in the mouth, as indicated at 4: and 5, as regards member 1, and 6 and 7, as regards member 2.

Each bit member has a jaw-embracing portion which extends from a point laterally of the lower jaw, as indicated at 8 and 9, and rearwardly about the jaw where their terminal ends are pivotally connected by means of eyes formed therein, as indicated at 10 and 11.

The free ends of the mouth portions are provided with rein rings and I may provide each terminal end with an eye 12 and 13 in which rein rings 14 and 15 are mounted. The reins are indicated at 16 and 17.

Positioning rings 18 and 19 are provided to hold the bit in place in the mouth of the animal, and the rings 18 embrace the bit members 1 and 2 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. Furthermore, it will be seen that each positioning ring '18 and 19 embraces both bit members, one member near its terminal end, and the other member near its juncture with its jaw terminal. The positioning rings 18 and 19 also serve for connection -with the bridle, bridle straps 20 and 21 being connected with the rings 18 and 19, re-

spectively, as clearly shown inFig. 1. Now

it will be readily seen that when stress is imposed on the reins 16 and 17 by pulling the same, the pivotally connected bit members will contract about the lower jaw of the animal in such a manner as to renderthe latter controllable without injury either to the t'ongue, mouth or jaw. The pivotal connection of the ends of the jaw members, at 10 and 11, not only provide for such contraction of the bit members about the lower jaw, but such pivotal connection also enables me to use one size of bit for animals of a wide range of size because the bit readily conforms to the size and shape of the animals mouth.

It will be seen that the positioning rings 18 and 19, serve to connect the bit members so as to hold the bit in place and retain the members in cross relation irrespective of the adjustment which the bit may take as a result of tension being imposed upon the lines or reins. 1

It is believed that the advantages and utility of my invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing description and while I have herein shown and described one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. A bit comprising a pair of bit bars pivotally connected together and looped 1n opposite directions in their body portions to have the free ends thereof lie in an overlapping and oppositely extending relation, and independent means received around the overlapped portions of said bit bars to hold the same in the proper relation and to yet permit movement of the bars longitudinally one with respect to the other.

A bit comprising a. pair of blt bars pivotally connected together at one end and looped in opposite directions in their body portions to have the free ends lie in an overlapped and oppositely extending relation,-

and independent means received around said bit bars in their" overlappedportions to maintain the overlapped relation and to permit longitudinal movement of the one bar with respect to the other, and rein-atgaching means on the free ends of said bit ars. 1'

3. A bit comprising a pair of bit bars pivotally connected together at one end and.

looped in opposite directions in their body portions to have the free ends thereof lie in an overlapped and oppositely extending relation, and positioning rings received around said bit bars in the overlapped por tion thereof. V

4. A bit comprising a pair of bit bars pivotally connected together at one end and looped in opposite directions in their body portions to have the free ends thereof lie in an overlapped and oppositely extending relation, positioning rings received around said bit bars in the overlapped portions thereof, and rein-attaching ringson the free ends ofsaicl bars.

5. A bit comprising a pair of bit bars Copies ofthis Patent may be obtained for each provided with a, loop at the one end each provided With a loop at the one end thereof and said loops pivotally connected together, said bit bars curved in opposite directions in their body portions to have V the free ends thereof lie in an overlapped and oppositely extending relation, positioning rings received around the overlapped portions of said bit bars near opposite sides of-the bit structure to hold the parts in an assembled and operative relation, and rein attaching rings carried on the free ends of said bars. w v

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JESSE FIELDS.

Witnesses: V

A, M. NUGENT, C. P. WILLIAMS.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

